Elevator bucket



Feb. 27, 1945. B, B GEMENY 2,370,531

ELEVATOR BUCKET Filed Aug. 24, 1942 2 Shee'CS-Sheet l Feb. 27,1945. B. B. GEMENY 4 2,370,531

' ELEVATOR BUCKET Filed Aug. 24, 1942.- v2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 27, 1945 Blaine B. Gemeny,

Tiffin,

Ohio, assignor to Webster Manufacturing, Inc., Tiffin, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application August 24, 1942, Serial N o. 455,845

claims.. (c1. 19g-152) In general, the' present invention relates to elevator buckets for use in handling or conveying'granular material, such as grain. More particularly, the invention relates to that type of bucket which is formed of plate metaly comprises I, a back, a front, a bottom and a pair of sides,

embodies means on the back thereof for attachment to an endless power driven belt around a pair of vertically aligned horizontally extending pulleys within a vertically elongated casing, and

is adapted in conjunction with a plurality of like orsimilar buckets on the belt to form an elevator for conveying the material to be han'- dled from the bootV or lower end of the casing to a discharge spout at the head or upper end of i 'by the fact that it is capable of being driven at high speed while fully loaded.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elevator Ibucket of the' aforementioned type in which the bottom and front are so angularly disposed with respect to one another and the back that the material -within the bucket is effectively and efliciently discharged during travel of the bucket around the upper or head pulley.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elevator bucket of the type and character under consideration in which the back'is flat and embodies along its upper margin a full length rearwardly extending rounded element which serves (l) as a fulcrum medium whereby during travel of the bucket around the `head pulley the lower margin of the backis urged into such rm contact with the belt that the material which is discharged from the following or trailing'bucket is precluded .from entering the space between the back of the bucket and the belt, (2) as a medium or instrumentality for preventing the material to be handled or conveyed from lodging A further object of the invention-is to provide an elevator bucket of the last mentioned character in which the full length rearwardly extending rounded 'element along theupper margin of the back of the bucket is y:formed by rolling or bending such margin of the bucket `back into substantially cylindrical form.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an elevatorbucket which may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost and not only is durable, but also effectively and eiciently fulfills its intended purpose.

` Other objects of the invention andthe various ladvantages and characteristics ofthe present elevator bucket will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description. The rinvention consists in the several novel features which'are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof. f

In-the drawings which accompany and form a part of the present disclosure and in' which like numerals of 'reference' denote .corresponding parts: l

Figure l is a vertical section of an elevator having buckets embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary transverse section illustrating in detailthe manner in which the full length rearwardly projecting rounded element along the'upper margink of the back of the improved bucket operates to urge the lower margin of the bucket into rm contact with the belt during travel of the bucket Varound the head pulley of the elevator; f,

Figure 3 is an enlarged `vertical transverse section of the bucket illustrating'in' detail the angular arrangement of the bottom 'and' front with respect to one another and the 'bucket back; Figure 4 is areal' perspective of the improved bucket; and i f Figure 5 is a front view of the bucket, parts being broken away and other parts being shown operating parts of an' elevator '1. The elevator.

is designed to handle "or convey granular material, such as grain,Y and comprises in addition to the'bucket 6 and the similar buckets associated therewith a vertically elongated casing 8 and an endless belt 9. Only the upper end ofl the casing is shown in the drawings. The lower end of the l' casing, is of `conventional design and includes a boot for receiving the material to be handled. The upper or head end of the casing is provided at the front thereof with a downwardly extending discharge spout IIJ. The top wall oi the head end of the casing is curved or arcuate so as to direct the material after discharge thereof from the buckets into the spout ID. The endless belt 9 is in the form of a verticallyyelongated loop. It carries the buckets in series form and is housed or disposed within the casing. The upper end of the belt is trained around and supported by a horizontally extending head pulley II which, as shownin Fig. 1, is disposed in the upper or head end of the casing. 'Ihe lower end of the belt is trained around a boot pulley (not shown) in the lower end or boot of the casing. 'Ihe two pulleys are journaled in suitable bearings and 'are adapted to be driven by an electric motor or other power source so as to cause drive of the endless belt 9. The head fpulley I is mounted or disposed above the discharge spout I and is arranged so that the buckets in traveling therearound passsuccessively bythe discharge spout and discharge the material into the spout. The vertical reach of the belt that is nearer the spout travels downwards with the buckets in an inverted position and the other vertical reach, that is, the reach farther from the spout, travels upet back I2 from the belt, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. When the bucket 6 travels around the head pulley 9 the element 2| functions as a fulcrum medium or instrumentality and causes the lower ymargin of the bucket back rmly or snugly to engage the adjacent portion of the belt. By having the lower margin of the back in firm contact with the belt during travel of the bucket 6 around the head pulley the material which isdischarged from the following or trailing bucket is precluded from becoming lodged between the back I2 of the bucket 6 and the adjacent portion of the belt. In addition to functioning as a fulcrum medium for the bucket 6 the element 2| serves materially to back and the beltl during travel of the bucket Ii` around the boot pulley in the lower end or boot of the elevator casing 8. As shown in Fig. 3, the

thickness of the element 2| is approximately four times the thickness of the plate metal of which the back, bottom and front of the -bucket is wards with the buckets in their normal position.

the boot pulley in the lower end or boot of the casing. After charging the buckets travel upformed. Preferably the element 2| is of such thickness that it causes the bucket back I2 to be inclined upwardly and outwardlyat approximately a 21/2" angle with respect to the vertical when the bucket E is traveling in the upwardly moving vertical reach of the belt 9 (see Fig. 3).

wards in the vertical reach. that is remote from i continuous stream through the discharge spout.

The bucket 6 is formed of plate metal land vconsists of` a back I2, a bottom I3, a front I4 and j a pair of sides I5. The back, bottom and front are preferably formed of a single piece of plate metal and the two sides are formed separately and are welded in place as hereinafter described. I'he back I2 of the bucket 6 is flat and rectangular and embodies a plurality of holes I6. ItA fits against and extends transversely across the outer face of the belt 9 and is attached to thebelt by bolts I'I. The latter correspond in number to the holes I6 and are of conventional design in that they comprise externally threaded shanks I8, heads I9, and nuts 20. The shanks of the bolts extend through the holes I6 and aligned holes in the belt and have the heads I9 at their inner ends in abutment with the inner face of the belt. The nuts 20 are mounted on the outer end of the Shanks and when tightened serve to hold they belt and the back wall of the bucket in clamped relation. The holes le are so positioned that the bolts are spaced laterally apart and are posi- -tioned midway between the upper and lower margins 'of the bucket back l2. The upper marginof the vback I2 of the bucket is extended and rolled or bent rearwards and downwards Vto form a rearwardly projecting substantially cylindrical fulcrum element 2|. This element engages the adjacent portion of the outeriface of thebelt 9 and serves to space the upper portion of the buck- By` having the back I2 of the bucket angularly ypositioned with respect to the belt the upper margin of the back serves in connection with discharge of the material from the bucket to direct the material away from the belt. Because the back I2 of the bucket is iiat and has a rearwardly projecting rolled oi curved element 2| at its upper margin the portion of the belt that ,is adjacent the bucket back is caused to bow outwards in the direction of the bucket and hence such portion of the belt travels readily around the .head and boot pulleys of the elevator 1. y I

The bottom I3 of the bucket 6 extends outwardly and upwardly from `the lower margin of the back I2 and has the inner margin thereof joined to the lower margin. of the back by way of a quadrantal type bend 22. It is flat and extends upwardly at an angle `ofapproximately 17%." with respect to the horizontal when the bucket 6 is traveling in the upwardly moving vertical reach of the belt. The width of the bucket bottom I3, that is the distance between the inner and outer edges of the bottom, is approximately 2/3 of the distance between theA upper and lower margins of the bucket back. In other words, the width of the bucket bottom is approximately 273 of the height of the bucket back. The bottom I3 of the bucket extends at approximately a 70 angle with respect to the back of the bucket (see Fig. 3). v

The front 4 of the bucket is joined to and projects outwardly and upwardly from the outer edge of the bucket bottom I3. It is substantially the same width as the bottom I3 and extends lat approximately a 45 angle with respect to the horizontal when the bucket 6 is in the upwardly moving vertical reach of the belt. It is hat and rectangular the same as the bottom I3 and has a straight outer edge.

The back, bottom and front of the bucket 'are the same in length and have coplanar end edges. Because of the particular angularity and arrangement of the bottom and front of the bucket vthe yaevcim material with which the bucketis chargedr is caused to leave the bucket .inf an' efficient manner during travel of thebucket around the head 'move outwards away from the bucketbottom in response to the action of gravity and centrifugal force on the material. By reasonof the fact that the bucket-bottom I3 is disposed at an acute angle with respect to the bucket' back l2, the outer face of the bucket bottom constitutes or serves asi-a deflecting surface for the material that is discharged by the following or trailing bucket The outer edge of the bucket fronty lil and the upper edge or margin of thebackv I2 of the vbucket lie in a plane (see dotted'line X in Fig. 3) which extends downwards at approximately an angle of with respect to the horizontal when the bucket i`s in its normal position, that 'is while it is inthe upwardly traveling reach of the elevatorybelt. Because of the arrangement and 'location of the outer edge of the bucket front I4 the material within the bucketis effectively and efliciently disjcharged therefrom during travel of' the bucket around the head pulley II. f

The` sides I5 are located at the sides of the bucketvand t within the end edges of the bucket back, bottomand front. AThey are flat and iin perforate, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

edges of the bucket sides are straight and extend v truly horizontally when the bucket is in its normal position. The outer portions of the upper edges of the bucket sides extend downwards at an angle of approximately 45 with respect to the horizontal. They are straight, as shown in Fig. 4, and .loin the ends of the outer edge o1 the bucket front I4. The upper portions of the two sides of the bucket project above the level of the granular material when the bucket is fully vloaded and serve to prevent sidewise spilling of the material during travel of the bucket in the upwardly moving vertical reach of the belt.

The herein described elevator bucket is essentially simple in design and may be manufac-V cent portion of the belt when the bucket is travel ing around the head pulley in connection with the discharge of the material `and also when the bucket is traveling around the boot pulley in connection with charging the bucket. i The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth,l since these may be modified within the scopel of the appended 40 gin of the back.

claims 'without departing from thasprit and scope of the invention. l l.

IHaving thus described the invention, what'fI claim as'new and desire to secure by Letters Patent'is:

" 1 'A bucket adapted with"v like buckets to be mounted in series form on a power driven endless belt around a pair of vertically spaced pulleys and to form with said like buckets,'belt and pulleys an' elevator for granular material, and compris'- ing a flat rectangular back adapted to extend transversely across the outer face ofthe belt, provided substantiallyv midway between .the upper and lower margins thereof with means for attachment to said belt, and having along itsupper 4margin a` full length rearwardly extending elerment of substantially circular cross section adapted during travel of the bucket 'around the upper pulley to-position the back so that the lower margin thereof is in firm engagementwith the belt,

and a bottom connected to and extending outwardly from said lower margin of the Iback.

2. A Aplate metal .bucketqadapted' with like 'l the outer face of the belt, provided substantially midway between -its upper and lower margins with means for attachment to said belt, and having the upper margin thereof rolled rearwards so as to form a full length substantially cylindrical fulcrum element for maintaining-the back in such `position that the lower margin thereof is in firm contact with the belt during travel of the bucket around the upper pulley, and a bottom connected vtov and extending outwardly from said lower mar- 3. A bucket adapted with like buckets to be mounted in series form on a power driven endless belt around a pair of spaced apart vertically aligned pulleys and to form with said like buckets, belt and pulleys an elevator for granular material, and comprising a at rectangular back' adapted to extendk transversely across the outer face of the belt, provided substantiallyy midway lbetween the' upper and lower margins thereof with means for attachment to said belt, and having along its upper margin a rearwardly projecting full length belt engaging element of substantially circular cross section adapted during travel of the bucket around the upper pulley to position the back so that the lower margin thereof is in firm engagement with the belt, and of such thickness that it serves to hold the yback at an vangle of approximately 21/2 with respect to the vertical when the bucket is traveling in the upwardly moving vertical reach of the belt, anda bottom connected to, and extending Aoutwardly and upwardly from, the bottom margin of said back.

4. A bucket adapted with like buckets to be mounted in series form on a power driven endless belt around a pair of spaced apart vertically aligned pulleys and to form with said like buckets, belt and pulleys an elevator for granular material, and comprising a flat rectangular back adaptedto extend transversely across the outer face of the belt, provided substantially midway between the upper and lower margins thereof with means for attachment'to said belt and having along its upper margin a rearwardly extending element of substantially circular cross-section adapted during travel'of the lbucket around the upper pulley to position the back so that the lower margin thereof is in rm engagement with the n belt and `of such thickness that it serves to hold the back at an angle vof approximately 21H with respect to the vertical when the bucket is traveling in the upwardly moving vertical reachof the belt,` a flat rectangular bottom having its width approximately .two-thirds that of the back, conk neoted `to the lower margin of, and extending outwardly and upwardly at an acute angle with ref spect to, said back and arranged so thatA it ex'- tends atapproximately an angle of 171/2" with `respect to the horizontal when the bucket is traveling yin said reach, a flat rectangular front of substantially the same width as the 4bottoni n .the bucket is traveling in said reach, and a pair of substantially vertical sides at the endedges of l the back, bottomand front.

5. Aplate metal bucketadapted withl like buckets to be mountedin series form on a power driven endlessbelt-around a pair of spaced1 apart ver- "tically aligned pulleys and `to form with said bucket, belt and pulleys an elevator for granular material, and comprising ahflat rectangular back adapted to extend transversely across the outer face of thebelt, Provided substantially midway between the upper and lower margins thereof with means for attachment to the belt and having lthe upper margin thereof rolled rearwards so as joined to, and extending outwardly and upwardly,

from, the outer margin of the bottom and arranged so that it extends at approximately an angle of 45 with respect to the horizontal when the bucket is traveling .in said reach, and a pair of substantially vertical sides at the end edges of the back, bottom and front, the outer edge of the front ofthe bucket and the upper edge of the bucket back lying in a plane that extends downwardly at approximately an angle of 20 with respect to the horizontal when the bucket is traveling in said upwardly moving vertical reach of the belt. y

BLAINE B. VGEMEIIY. 

